Not strapped for flash
Upmarket in feel but without the price tags to match, these family hatches are exceptionally good used buys. Let’s see where your money should go
Price today
£10,000*
Audi A3 Sportback 1.4 TFSI 125 Sport Nav List price when new £22,185
Available from 2013-2020
A long-standing favourite of ours, the A3 is a class act with a great interior
AUDI A3
1 Infotainment screen pops up out of the dashboard and (as in the 1 Series) is easy to use via a rotary controller
2 A3 has a fine driving position, with well-placed pedals, and the sports seats are comfortable even on long journeys
3 Interior is robustly built and the quality of the materials is excellent, even next to the far from shabby 1 Series
BMW 1 SERIES
1 Automatic gearboxes (pictured on both of our test cars) were optional from new, but we’d stick with the manuals
2 As in the A3, the 1 Series has lots of physical knobs and buttons for easy, intuitive operation on the move
3 Pedals are offset to the right, so you have to sit at an angle. Seat height and backrest adjusters aren’t the easist to use
Photography:John Bradshaw
BMW 1 Series 118i Sport 5dr List price when new £22,460
Available from 2011-2019
With more power than its rival and rear-wheel drive, the 1 Series looks like a real driver’s car
Price today
£10,000*
AUDI A3
*Price today is based on a 2016 model with average mileage and full service history, correct at time of writing
While firm, the A3’s ride isn’t uncomfortable. Engine pulls harder from low revs
BMW 1 SERIES
The 1 Series kicks up less road noise than the A3 at high speeds, but more wind noise
IT DOESN’T TAKE a full-on petrolhead or a top-flight secondhand car dealer to understand why the previous-generation versions of the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series are so popular on the used market.